'Twas early the next morning, and the seas and skies around duel academy were clear... barring a single row boat, heading purposefully towards the shore. Within it, a single man – Mr. Huffington. His goal? To see his son removed from duel academy, and forced to work in a hot sauce factory for minimum wage!

And now, following that pointlessly dramatic introduction, I give you – the Author's notes! What, did you think I forgot? After all, I need to get Chumley to do the disclaimer, so...

Disclaimer: Kjel totally doesn't own Yugioh or anyone in it, and it'd be totally not 'liscous if you sued him or something.

'What!' This was the general reaction to the announcement that Chumley's father had arrived on the island, and was planning to forcibly remove Chumley from it.

'So, let me get this straight. Your dad wants you to leave duel academy, give up on all your dreams, and make hot sauce for the rest of your life?'

'That about covers it. Sorry guys, but when my dad makes up his mind, there's nothing anyone can do about it. It's totally not 'liscous...'

'But Chumley, if y'all leave, it'll be the end of everything y'all worked for!"

'And? Let's face it, I've already flunked my first year. What chance do I have of getting anywhere? 'Sides, dad doesn't care about what I think, or about my special talent...' Several ear perked up at this.

'Special talent? What d'yall mean?'

'Well, sometimes I can hear my cards talking, but you probably just think I'm crazy...'

'I don't think y'all crazy!'

'Really? Why?'

'Well, I, uh...'

'Look, if it makes you feel better, I'll try and convince my dad to let me stay, but he wont be 'liscous about it.'

'And we'll talk to chancellor Sheppard. I'm sure he'll have a say in this,' declared the ever-optimistic Caleb.

'What d'y'all mean you don't have a say in this?'

'I'm afraid boys that this is a family matter, and as such really isn't any of our business. I know you want your friend to stay here, but I'm afraid unless Mr Huffington agrees to it, there's nothing I can do.'

'Well son, do you really want to stay here that badly?' Chumley nodded. 'Then first you can prove to me that you actually learned something here, and duel me! Beat me, and you can stay.'

'...Fine. If that's what it takes to make you happy I'll do it.' Mr Huffington smiled slightly, and pushed out of the room, leaving the others to contemplate what had just occured.

'Piece of cake! Y'all be back before ya know it Chumley! I bet yor dad can't even duel!'

'Actually, he's been state champion three years running.'

'What! And y'all still agreed to duel him? Looks like we've got some work to do tonight. Let's see if we can't tweak ya deck a bit.'

'Looks like I'll have to leave this up to you guys then,' Caleb sighed, 'But I'll be with you in spirit, and there's no way I'll miss the duel tomorrow!'

And so it was that night, while Mr Huffington forced Professor Banner to drink hot sauce -and likely charge him for it later- that Jesse, Syrus and chumley sat late into the night, discussing strategy, tactics, and constructions.

'Hey, y'all sure have a lot of Koalas in there!'

'I guess I've always been drawn to them. I don't know why.'

'Hey, Chumley, why don't you take this card then? It's not a Koala, but it's from Australia too, so I guess it kind of fits.'

'Really, Syrus? I can have it?'

'Sure!'

'Oh, that reminds me! I got this in a pack the other day, but I can't use it, and it'd fit great with ya deck. Let's see...' Jesse rummaged around for a few minutes, before pulling out the offending card. 'Here ya go.'

'Wow, Jesse. That's got some totally 'liscous stats. Are you sure you don't mind giving it to me?'

'Take it! Y'all can use it better than me anyway.'

'Wow, thanks guys... I don't know what to say...' He sniffed, wiping his nose on his sleeve. From outside the doorway, eavesdropping was proven to be fun. Mr Huffington merely smiled to himself, and went back to his casual torture of the poor professor.

The cafeteria in the Slifer dorm had been cleared the next morning to make room for the duel, Chumley squaring off against his father, with Banner, Jesse, Syrus and Caleb watching with bated breath.

'This will be a standard match everyone, with the winner deciding Chumley's future here at Duel Academy. May the best man win.'

'Now then son, I'll let you have the first move, but that's the only thing you'll get from me this duel.'

[Chumley:4000/Mr Huffington:4000]

'Fine then. I'll summon Des Koala in attack mode!'

'Idiot! If you'd played it face down then you could've damaged my life points with it's effect! Haven't you learned anything here?' Chumley flinched, but rallied.

'Y'all show him Chumley'

'You can do it! You've got friendship on your side!'

'Thanks guys. I end my turn.'

'That's it? Fine, I'll summon Dizzy Tiger in attack mode, and destroy your Koala!'

[Chumley:3300/Mr Huffington:4000]

'Now, show me what you've got!'

'Draw!' Chumley glanced at the card. 'Hah! I'll play Koala march, letting me summon back my Des Koala from the graveyard, and another from my hand, but they won't be sticking around, 'cause I'll sacrifice them both to summon Big Koala! Take out his Tiger!'

[Chumley:3300/Mr Huffington:3100]

'Nice one Chumley! Y'all've got the upper hand now!'

'Better, but still not good enough. I'll summon my Dizzy Angel in attack mode, and play a hot sauce bottle. Next, I'll play flipping the table, letting me destroy all of my cards, and then the same number of yours. And my Dizzy Angel is immune to flipping the table, so I just lose my hot sauce bottle, and you lose your big Koala. Even better, when a hot sauce bottle goes, so do 500 of your life points! And now you're wide open for an attack from my Dizzy Angel!'

[Chumley:1000/Mr Huffington:3100]

'Y'all can still do it Chumley!'

'Friendship'll pull you through!'

'Um, Caleb, is this really the time?'

'It's always the right time for friendship Syrus.' Ignoring the bickering, Chumley looked his dad straight in the eye.

'This is just like you: You don't like something so you just get rid of it. When have you ever asked me about what I want?'

'I let you come here didn't I?'

'Only because Mom made you let me. If she hadn't, I'd've been making hot sauce already.'

'And you'd have been better off for it too.'

'See! You're doing it again! But it doesn't matter, because I can still win this! I play silent doom, letting me summon back Big Koala from my graveyard!' Mr Huffington laughed.

'But he can't attack, so what good is it?'

'Because it lets me play polymerisation, fusing it with the Des Kangaroo in my hand, to form the Master of Oz!'

'Woo-ew! Y'all get him!'

'And I'll attack your Dizzy Angel with Outback attack!'

[Chumley:1000/Mr Huffington:700]

'Well, I have to admit you've done better than I expected, but it still isn't enough. I'll play two more hot sauce bottles, and activate flipping the table. You should know what that means.'

'Yeah. I lost.'

[Chumley:0/Mr Huffington:700]

'Guess that means this is it... Guess I'd better go pack...' The other followed him back to the room, desperately trying to talk him out going, or at least delay him just that little bit longer.

'But y'all can't just go-'

'Jesse, you heard my dad. I lost, so he pulls me out. Not 'liscous, but I tried my best.'

'I almost feel like it's my fault... I should have been here to help last night...'

'Caleb, there's only so much you guys can do. At the end of the day, it was me who duelled, me who lost...' Chumley eventually managed to pack, though it took well oven an hour with the other's interference. As he trudged defeatedly outside, he bumped into Professor Banner.

'Oh, Professor... Is my dad around?'

'Actually, no. He left a note saying that with such wonderful friends, it would be wrong to make you leave. He's willing to give you another chance, and he possible says he's proud of you, though that part was covered by a hot sauce stain.' Banner groaned slightly. 'And he left me a crate. How... thoughtful.'

'So, he can stay?' Banner nodded. 'All right! Y'all ain't going nowhere Chumley!'

'See! I said friendship would save the day!' Mild groaning.

'Caleb, don't you save the friendship speeches for Jaden?' Caleb stopped in his tracks.

'You're right, I haven't seen him today! He'll get lonely if I don't go find him!' And with that he was gone, at a slightly madcap dash back towards his own dorm. The others watched him in silence for a while.

'...Sometimes I wonder if it's the same Jaden we know Caleb's talking about...'

'I know what y'all mean Lil' buddy...'

'Totally not 'Liscous...'

'Oh, my! I forgot to feed Pharaoh this morning!'

Gah... Yes, I'm still Aliiiiiiiiiive. Life has kept me busy, and I couldn't quite get motivated, and this chapter's been giving me writers block for a while. So I half-arsed it to get it over and done with ^_^

I just want to get to the tag duel, since Caleb makes his duelling debut next chapter ^_^ That should be fun, and no, all of his cards are real ^_^ There are no made up cards in this deck, apart from Jaden's which are just recolours of his elemental heroes anyway.

But yeah. I'm still here. And I'll try and take less than a few months to get up the next chapter. ^_^